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Moving up - am I ready?

E

evilbiscuit

Jul 21, 2010
25
0
#1
I've been in a for-fun band for about six months, playing small clubs and college bars every other weekend. The pay is sparse, but the beer is free and we have loads of fun. With a part-time job and full-time college, it isn't a draw on my time or my money, and the commitment level is low.

However, just yesterday I got a call from a drummer I've known since high school. He's drumming for an established, well-known area band, has been for a year or two now, and the group he's with is very talented, and signing to a label is very close to fruition. As you might already have guessed, they're looking to fill their bass spot.

So my question is - am I ready? The schedule is stacked - three shows a weekend, weekday shows as well, the occasional way-out-of-town festival. Accepting this schedule would mean the end of all my free time - I would have to take my books on the road with me for sure, and there would be no time for my family or my girlfriend.

In addition to this, I looked at their website and got a look at their former bassist. He's got 8 years of bassing on me - M9 Carbine racked on Ampeg 8x10s, playing custom 6ers. It's pro gear. I only picked up bass in January (after 13 years of guitar - my chops are certainly above average) and have only just begun assembling my performing rig. I've got a hand-me-down Peavey 1810 and a Backline 600. I play a Squier CV Precision. It's not pro gear.

So - do I jump in headfirst and try and get ahead as a musician? Or do I pass it up and wait for the next shot to come around when I'm graduated and have more time and have invested in some professional equipment?

Am I ready to be a professional?
 
#2
Good opportunities are few and far between, if you want to give it a shot, do it now.

Do not mess up in school if you can help it, that's way more likely to work out.

Definitely go for it. My first bass gig was with a pretty established local band, whose leader apparently thought I was playing bass in my previous band, rather than trumpet 99% of the time, and bass on Evil Ways, Proud Mary, and Boogie Oogie Oogie. Apparently my communication skills were not as good as they should have been... must have forgotten to spell that part out... :D:hiding:

I'd only been playing bass for a few years, and the bassist I was replacing was Don Was (Was Not Was).

Was I ready? No. Did I get the job? Yes. Did I learn a tremendous amount? Yes. Was I way over my head? Yes.

At some point, I was replaced, but it was a wild ride. It is always a good thing to be the weak link in the band, your pride takes a beating, but if you work hard and keep an open mind, you'll learn more in a few months than you might otherwise take years to figure out.

Randy
 
#4
evilbiscuit said:
I've been in a for-fun band for about six months, playing small clubs and college bars every other weekend. The pay is sparse, but the beer is free and we have loads of fun. With a part-time job and full-time college, it isn't a draw on my time or my money, and the commitment level is low.

However, just yesterday I got a call from a drummer I've known since high school. He's drumming for an established, well-known area band, has been for a year or two now, and the group he's with is very talented, and signing to a label is very close to fruition. As you might already have guessed, they're looking to fill their bass spot.

So my question is - am I ready? The schedule is stacked - three shows a weekend, weekday shows as well, the occasional way-out-of-town festival. Accepting this schedule would mean the end of all my free time - I would have to take my books on the road with me for sure, and there would be no time for my family or my girlfriend.

In addition to this, I looked at their website and got a look at their former bassist. He's got 8 years of bassing on me - M9 Carbine racked on Ampeg 8x10s, playing custom 6ers. It's pro gear. I only picked up bass in January (after 13 years of guitar - my chops are certainly above average) and have only just begun assembling my performing rig. I've got a hand-me-down Peavey 1810 and a Backline 600. I play a Squier CV Precision. It's not pro gear.

So - do I jump in headfirst and try and get ahead as a musician? Or do I pass it up and wait for the next shot to come around when I'm graduated and have more time and have invested in some professional equipment?

Am I ready to be a professional?
Click to expand...

You need to access your situation and decide which is more important to you then prioritize accordingly. Only you can do that and only you know if you're ready or not.

Finishing your education seems like the obvious choice to me. Bands (both good and bad) will come and go, but the degree will last a life time and ultimately holds more power when the time comes you need to have a job other than bass playing.'

It still at least pays to audition with these guys. Even if you don't get or want the gig after auditioning, you've still created a larger network to call upon down the road to do side projects with.
 
#5
Jump and the net will appear.



How old, and do you want to be a musician???? You have a shot......take it. Might not work out.....might suck down the road......but if it's what you want, DO IT!!!!!!

Waiting until you're ready and it's the right time???? You'll never be ready, and the right time will never come.
 
#8
what your goals are? If you want to be a musician and make you living of it then this is a good opportunity, what about college? If your goals in life are related to get a degree maybe a master and get a great job or start your own business then get into this band could be not a good idea. You need to pursue whatever your dream is.
 
#9
I'm 23, and I've got about a year left of school.

I'm not concerned about cutting into my job, but school is what is really giving me pause here. On the one hand, I want this. I REALLY want this. The networking would be great, the exposure and the music even better. My dream is to make it big (whose isn't?) but I would want to always play music, professionally or otherwise. This is the step up to the level that I've shot at for years.

On the other hand, I'm a TERRIBLE student. I work hard, I study hard, but school and I do not agree on any level. I have enough trouble keeping up with my studies as it is - I'm terrified of falling behind and not being able to catch back up. I want the degree so that I'll always have something to fall back on. My intent was to try music full-time after college, really shoot for it, and be comfortable knowing that if it didn't happen I'd have my safety net. If I do this and it doesn't pan out, I don't want to wash out of it and find out I've fallen so far behind that it takes me another two years to catch up.

I know what some of you might think - grow a pair and do it - but this is, to me at least, a huge sacrifice if I go through with this.

But soul-searching aside, let's do a little logistics. You saw that I'm working a Peavey cab and a Backline series. Their PA is stellar - will the DI out of the amp give a quality sound or do I need to invest in a Sansamp or other floor DI?

(note- I'm asking this not just because of this offer but in the event I pass, I want to be prepared if another comes around)
 
#10
one year is nothing my friend, my suggestion is finish the college, if you stop then it will be hard to come back, in the meantime you can stay with your current band and try to improve your chops, ex: fretless, sight reading, being confident with other type of music: Jazz, metal etc. But again this is something that only you can answer.

ps once you get your degree and get a good job you will be in better position to afford any bass you want :)
 
#11
Which would you rather do......do it and regret that it didn't work out, or not do it and regret that you never tried???? You're young, with few things holding you down. School will be there if you need it......you just might have to work a little harder.
 
#12
I can sightread, and I'm well-versed in many music styles (classical piano as a kid, dropped it and picked up a guitar as a rebellious teen, worked it religiously in my room until I decided to try and make a little money on my skills - and the market favors bassists so I made the switch). The instrument came naturally to me - the only thing I really had to (and still have to) learn from scratch is the right-hand techniques. As far as chops go, I'm on par with these guys. It's my commitment and time issues that are keeping me from jumping in headfirst.

And dammit, now I've got Van Halen on the radio egging me on. 'Might as well jump, go ahead and jump.' Shut up, Roth. You're not making this easier.
 
#13
DO it man. I played guitar for 12 years then switched to bass. Playing 8-12 times a month and festivals now... its f'in badass. Take it and run with it. If the band has made it that far, there's a better chance they'll at least maintain or grow even more. FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT! Go buy a rackmount sansamp RBI. That will "FAKE" fix your tone. What I mean by that is, your rig will sound NOTICEABLY better immediately once you hook up an RBI. It makes bad gear sound better and is very versatile. It has marginal affects on gear that is already badass... like an SWR SM900 head and goliath sr. cab. It also has a really good DI on the back and a DI level on the front. Sound guys love that ****.

Most of the gigs you should do sound like they'll be with a big enough PA to DI your bass, and that is key. If you have a 2x10 combo cab without PA support... prepare to stand really close to your amp.
 
#14
If you like the band (the guys and the music) do it. If you get signed and need to tour, school will be there when you are done. If nothing happens, you will graduate on time IF you focus. You certainly can do both. Right now I am working full time, taking a graduate class and recording an album. Hard, sure, but you can do it!
 
#15
evilbiscuit said:
I With a part-time job and full-time college, it isn't a draw on my time or my money, and the commitment level is low.

Accepting this schedule would mean the end of all my free time - I would have to take my books on the road with me for sure, and there would be no time for my family or my girlfriend.
Click to expand...

evilbiscuit said:
I'm not concerned about cutting into my job,...

On the other hand, I'm a TERRIBLE student. I work hard, I study hard, but school and I do not agree on any level. I have enough trouble keeping up with my studies as it is - I'm terrified of falling behind and not being able to catch back up.
Click to expand...

So, let's see.

In your current situation, you have a part-time job, a part-time band, a girlfriend, you parents and full time school. Yet you claim that in your current situation that the band is not cutting into your time very much. And, you are a terrible student about one year away from a degree.


IMO, since you have a hard time making through school as it is, I suggest you finish it. Dropping your girlfriend and your parents, IMO, is not really that feasible.

And, there's no way to be in two places at the same time if the new band is gigging that much.

If you get in the new band, I'd drop school (which may not be feasible since you probably have school loans and money from your parents on the line if you drop now.

My vote is to finish school and then do the band thing.

good luck.
 
#16
Stumbo said:
In your current situation, you have a part-time job, a part-time band, a girlfriend, you parents and full time school. Yet you claim that in your current situation that the band is not cutting into your time very much. And, you are a terrible student about one year away from a degree.
Click to expand...

I may have made myself unclear somewhere in there. I often do. My current band doesn't practice. We play covers and drinking songs and we have one album of originals that we shop around to drunk girls and friends and all that. But there's no real dedication. We're skilled enough to learn a song in a day or so and play it cold. So I don't have to worry about it. It's easy, and it doesn't take away from the important stuff (i.e. school). I wouldn't stay with them if I joined this new group. That's impossible.

Anyway, I'm due to meet with the new guys this week to jam and test the waters. We'll talk schedules and gear and expectations, etc. and maybe something great will happen. I'll report back with the yes/no and we can commence the tomato-tossing as needed. :hiding:

You guys give bitchin' advice, btw.
 
#18
Never wait for the next shot, it may never come. As with a lot of fellow tb'ers I say jump in head first, feet first running or whatever metaphor you prefer.

I think it's a great chance, and if I read correctly, they already think you have what it takes. So all you have to do is prove it to them. Good luck!
 
#20
I don't know man, are they going to be asking you for money on the road? or to pay to record the songs they wrote without you? are they looking at you as a member, a sub, a hired low end? can you handle the life of being out there. is there a chance the main guy in the band could throw up his arms and say "that it, skrew you guys, I'm going solo"? sounds like you like the band your in. and you know if they "get signed" they owe that money back to the label, and you will have to pay to re record the songs they wrote in 2009. you will have to drop out of school, to tour 180 shows or more a year. you will have to buy the gear you get endorsed by. (its a great deal at cost, but... you need all that pro gear, it's still not cheap) if your really down, and know what your getting into... don't miss it, you most likely will not be asked to join a band like this for a long time.
 

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